Oh, how often has the life of the innocent been sacrificed through the intemperance of those who should have been guardians of justice! He who puts the intoxicating cup to his lips makes himself responsible for all the injustice he may commit under its besotting power. By benumbing his senses he makes it impossible for him to judge calmly or to have a clear perception of right and wrong. He opens the way for Satan to work through him in oppressing and destroying the innocent. "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." Prov. 20:1. Thus it is that "judgment is turned away backward, . . . and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey." Isa. 59:14, 15. Those who have jurisdiction over the lives of their fellow men should be held guilty of a crime when they yield to intemperance. All who execute the laws should be lawkeepers. They should be men of self-control. They need to have full command of their physical, mental, and moral powers, that they may possess vigor of intellect, and a high sense of justice.

Ak, hvor ofte er de uskyldiges liv blevet opofret på grund af umådeholdenhed hos dem, der burde have været retfærdighedens vogtere! Den, der fører den berusende drik til sine læber, gør sig selv ansvarlig for al den uretfærdighed, han kan komme til at begå under dens sløvende magt. Ved at lamme sine sanser gør han det umuligt for sig selv at dømme besindigt eller at have en klar opfattelse af, hvad der er ret eller uret. Han baner vejen for Satan og lader sig bruge af ham til at underkue og tilintetgøre de uskyldige. "En spotter er vinen, stærk drik slår sig løs, og ingen, som raver deraf, er vis." Ordsp. 20,1. Så sker det, at "retten trænges tilbage, og skyr man det onde, flås man." Es. 59,14-15. De, der har domsmyndigheden over deres medmenneskers liv, burde regnes for skyldige i forbrydelse, hvis de hengiver sig til umådeholdenhed. Alle de, der fuldbyrder loven, burde selv overholde loven. De burde være mennesker med selvbeherskelse. De må nødvendigvis have den fulde beherskelse af deres legemlige, sjælelige og åndelige evner, så de kan være i besiddelse af en levende forstand og en dyb retfærdighedsfølelse.